Haringey Racial Equity Conference 2026

Hosted in partnership between Haringey Council and Haringey Education Partnership, Haringey Racial Equity Conference has been an essential event for educationalists across London for a decade. The theme of the 2026 conference is ‘From Commitment to Action: Sharing practice, raising outcomes.’ 

The conference features a powerful lineup of keynotes and workshops aimed at transforming institutional commitment into measurable success for our students.

The keynote speakers, Dr Patrick Roach CBE and Evelyn Forde MBE, will focus on tackling the underachievement of Black and Black Caribbean children.

The conference will also play host to a series of workshops that will cover a wide range of practical approaches to support your students and school organisations to tackle racial equity gaps head-on.

Meet the keynote speakers

Evelyn brings decades of educational leadership experience to her work. She served as Headteacher of Copthall School from 2016 to 2023, leading the school through significant improvement and national recognition. In 2020, she was named TES Headteacher of the Year, followed by an MBE in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List for services to education.

Evelyn also served as Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) President (2022 – 23) and continues to contribute as a member of their Executive Team and Chair of ASCL Professional Development. Alongside her leadership roles, she is the author of Herstory and a respected voice on equity, leadership, and school improvement.

Evelyn has remained deeply engaged in the sector as a consultant and improvement partner since stepping away from full‑time headship. She works closely with senior and middle leaders, providing coaching and mentoring to strengthen leadership practice, enhance school culture, and drive sustainable improvement.

Dr Patrick Roach CBE was formerly General Secretary of the Teachers’ Union, NASUWT, where he led the union between 2020 and 2025. He served as the union’s Deputy General Secretary between 2010 and 2020.

Patrick has over 30 years’ experience in education policy-making, advocacy and negotiations at local, national and international levels. He played a central role in establishing the England and Wales social partnership between 2003 and 2010, which transformed the pay and conditions arrangements for teachers, school leaders and support staff. Patrick also helped secure the Improving Education Together school and college partnership programme following the 2024 general election.

In 2020, Patrick was appointed Chair of the Anti-Racism Taskforce of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), leading the publication of the TUC’s Anti-Racism Manifesto and national action plan on behalf of Britain’s six million trade union members.

He has a track record of work on racial justice, equality and diversity in education, employment and public services.

In 2025, Patrick was awarded a CBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to education.

Join us on 23 April at the London Academy of Excellence. 

Tickets are FREE to all Haringey and HEP member schools.

Email info@haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk to get the discount code.

All other tickets are £50 per person, and can be booked via Eventbrite.

Maya is Head of Communications and Engagement at HEP.